Laptop only boots up when IT wants to!
I've got a Dell Latitude CPi-A366XT and it generally works good, but it has an annoying startup problem.
When I press the power button, the laptop's BIOS screen with the blue DELL logo and model number & BIOS version may come up on the first try, or it may take a dozen tries or more to get it to come up. No kidding!
I don't know why this is, all I know is that if I press the power button and the BIOS screen doesn't appear in 2-3 seconds, it will never appear. Press the power button to shut it off and try again.
The hard drive always starts working when the power button is pressed, whether or not the computer boots up.
The computer has 192 MB of memory and is running XP Home.
Maybe it needs a new CMOS battery? It IS a 5 year old laptop after all. I have no idea if the battery was ever replaced or not.
It did this when it had only 64 MB of memory in it, it does it both on battery power and on the AC adapter power. There doesn't seem to be any specific set of circumstances for it. It may boot up on the first try once or 3-4 times in a row, but then it'll go back to needing 10 or more attempts to turn it on.
The hard drive is an IBM 4.53 GB unit, 4200 rpm, and it's probably the original. I don't remember the date code, but it's 1999 something.
All I know is that it annoys me.
I have tried running the computer with a bootable Knoppix 3.6 CD, and the same thing applies. The computer will run it only after it gets around to starting the BIOS screen.
Aside from the boot up problem the computer works fine.
When I press the power button, the laptop's BIOS screen with the blue DELL logo and model number & BIOS version may come up on the first try, or it may take a dozen tries or more to get it to come up. No kidding!
I don't know why this is, all I know is that if I press the power button and the BIOS screen doesn't appear in 2-3 seconds, it will never appear. Press the power button to shut it off and try again.
The hard drive always starts working when the power button is pressed, whether or not the computer boots up.
The computer has 192 MB of memory and is running XP Home.
Maybe it needs a new CMOS battery? It IS a 5 year old laptop after all. I have no idea if the battery was ever replaced or not.
It did this when it had only 64 MB of memory in it, it does it both on battery power and on the AC adapter power. There doesn't seem to be any specific set of circumstances for it. It may boot up on the first try once or 3-4 times in a row, but then it'll go back to needing 10 or more attempts to turn it on.
The hard drive is an IBM 4.53 GB unit, 4200 rpm, and it's probably the original. I don't remember the date code, but it's 1999 something.
All I know is that it annoys me.
I have tried running the computer with a bootable Knoppix 3.6 CD, and the same thing applies. The computer will run it only after it gets around to starting the BIOS screen.
Aside from the boot up problem the computer works fine.
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Comments
It's worth a shot. You've tried everything I would've tried, specifically related to your power source. The button seems to be ok, as the system initiates its mechanical devices. The RAM doesn't affect the ability to boot..
Give the battery a go. Be sure to take it with you when you seek a replacement.
Geeky, Jameco sells pre-tailed-and-heatshrink-covered CR-2032s. You can solder the connector plus tail to the old nipped-off tails if the connector that comes is wrong. the connector for the tailed cells usually fits OK. Just be careful about polarity if you jury-rig the tails, ok??? Jameco also sells the connector shells and the inserted female pins for many form factors. Pins come in min qty of ten. A REAL crimp pliers is nice, but a needlenose with very fine points can be used to crimp, or you can tack-solder the wires to connectors and then fold over the gripping parts of connector pins over your wire and dot of solder with a tiny needle-nose or very small forceps.
TO THE THREAD topic: Second, one way to get this is to have a main laptop battery that never got deep cycled when first charged up. If computer also shuts down itself often and seemingly all by itself, try deep-cycle charging the battery. Essentially, assume batter yis real low on charge, and charge for full charge time given in manual. Then do that two more times with two hours unplugged and not used between cycles. Reason for two hours unplugged and not in use it to let battery cool between charges.
IBM lappies are kinda unique(and I mention that because some lappies DO have redundant backup batteries in them), they have TWO backup batteries. When main cell dies and both backups are discharged, you get to replace THREE batteries. For a Dell computer, best thing is to set up a support ticket, and then let them tell you what to do. They can at least tell you if the batteries need replacing.
I looked on the Dell website, and it seems to be called a "reserve battery", and is comprised of 6 small cells put together. 7.2 volts, 30 MaH.
Would that be the right battery, or is there another BIOS battery somewhere? I didn't see anything else referring to other batteries in the online manuals.
Anyone got a part number for this battery? I'm going to call the local Radio Shack and see if they know anything about it.
The main 8 cell battery was not in the computer for the test.
The CMOS battery is a 6 cell Varta battery, part number 60906, 7.2 volt 40 mAH. Nickel Metal Hydride cells. It also says 6/V 40 H.
It measures 2-5/8" long, 1/2" wide, and 1/4" tall. Green shrink wrap plastic / vinyl all over it.
I called a few computer stores and they say they don't stock anything like it.
So if the CMOS battery isn't bad, what else could be causing the hard startups?
During the times I'd be restarting the computer 10+ times to get it going, I'd tap lightly on the hard drive side of the laptop. Sometimes it seemed to help, sometimes it didn't.
It never shuts down abruptly or anything. It just doesn't want to start up easily.
If you want to eliminate that possibility just for grins download Powermax and test the drive. (http://www.softpedia.com/public/cat/13/8/13-8-19.shtml)
Trev
If the boot sequence was being interrupted by a faulty hard drive, which is entirely possible considering you can't see the post sequence